BackSC grants Odisha government 3 more months to clear mining lease renewals
The apex court had directed temporary closing of 26 mines in Odisha which were running on deemed renewals of their second leases
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday granted a three-month extension to the Odisha government to clear mining lease renewals in compliance with the court’s 16 May order.
The order of the apex court had directed temporary closing of 26 mines in Odisha which were running on deemed renewals of their second leases. After this, the state government had then issued an order to look into the lease renewal within six months, reopening the mines.
The Odisha government, represented by additional solicitor general L. Nageswara Rao, said it had received the final report of the court-appointed central empowered committee (CEC) on 16 October. He further added that for eight requests in relation to captive mining, a decision had been taken.
A three-judge bench with chief justice H.L. Dattu, justices Arun Mishra and A.K. Goel found that “three months time is reasonable" to pass orders in relation to the remaining 18 mining leases.
The court also allowed certain mining companies to object to the state government’s order regarding the renewals.
The companies have alleged that the government had considered a committee report as the basis for rejecting renewals. It is the contention of these companies that the 16 May order of the apex court did not envisage this.
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